The first film from Miyazaki’s ‘Boy And the Heron’ is released

Hayao Miyazaki has been capturing the hearts of children and adults everywhere for years. With this movie, that is supposed to end.

Miyazaki is known for directing films like Spirited away, My neighbor Totoroand a pony through his company, Studio Ghibli. His works explore deep themes such as family, magic, and the destructive forces at work with unfettered industry. Still, there is a contradiction in Miyazaki; as his films often reject modernity while also being haunted and fascinated by aspects of it. Miyazaki channels these contradictions into something beautiful, time after time.

Although he had retired several times, Miyazaki is now 82 years old. His latest “last” movie is The Boy and the Warden, which tells the story of a young boy named Mahito. Mahito lost his mother in a bombing during World War II. In real life, Miyazaki escaped a bombing as a young boy. His father became an aircraft mechanic, just like Mahito’s father. In The Boy And The Dwarf, Heron talks to Mahito who tells him that his mother is still alive. The Heron draws him to a new world of magic and mystery, as he searches for his mother.

After months of anticipation (and no footage of the footage available to the public) The Boy and the Warden the trailer is finally out:

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Here is Studio Ghibli’s official description of the film:

A young boy named Mahito

desire for his mother

entering a world shared by the living and the dead.

Then death ends,

and life will have a new beginning.

Semi-autobiographical fantasy

of life, death, and creation,

in honor of your friendship,

from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.

The Boy and the Warden is set to open in theaters (and in IMAX) on December 8th. The film will premiere tomorrow at the Toronto International Film Festival.